Storms, cold snap headed in after wet weekend
Forecasters predict continued soaking for most of Israel, with dropping temperatures bringing hail, high winds and rain
Stuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.
The unseasonably cold and wet weather that drenched many parts of the country over the weekend was predicted to continue on Sunday with storms and high winds blowing in even more rain.
Temperatures are already at an 18-year low, but forecasts are calling for more cold and rain across most of Israel, reaching all the way to the Negev desert in the south and possibly even the port city of Eilat at the southern tip of the country.
The rain was expected to lighten toward the evening and then fade away over the following two days. However, the inclement weather could briefly return on Thursday.
After last week saw temperatures reach 40°C (104°F) in some areas, a sudden cold snap brought temperatures down to well below seasonal averages.
Temperatures in Jerusalem were predicted to drop below 10°C (50° F) by the evening and could fall as low as 5°C (41°F). In Tel Aviv, temperatures are expected to range from 10-14°C (50-57°F). According to the Israel Meteorological Service, average temperatures for Tel Aviv in April range from 14-22° C (57-71° F) and in Jerusalem from 12-21° C (53-69° F).
On Saturday, heavy snow continued to fall on the Golan Heights, forcing the closure of the Mount Hermon ski resort with 10 centimeters of snow recorded that day alone.
According to Channel 2 weather forecaster Sharon Wexler, since last Thursday night some 59 millimeters of rain fell on Haifa, 28 millimeters on Tel Aviv and 17 on Jerusalem.
The Times of Israel Community.